Wartime pillbox opened to the public

The Filton pillbox dates back to World War Two

A refurbished wartime pillbox has been opened up for the first time since 1945 to commemorate the Filton Blitz, which killed more than 140 people.

Bristol Aeroplane Company's works and airfield were attacked by the Luftwaffe just before 12:00 BST on 25 September 1940.

Built between 1940 and 1941 to defend aircraft factories, pillboxes like the one in Filton provided protection for soldiers and the Home Guard during wartime preparations. The Filton pillbox is now on display at Aerospace Bristol.

Museum volunteer Bill Morgan, 91, said: "It was fortunately unused as far as I know. Nobody ever fired a single shot out of it."

The pillbox forms part of the Filton Blitz experience at Aerospace Bristol, which the museum said recreated the sights and sounds of an air raid complete with sirens and bombers flying overhead.

The project also includes memories from local people whose lives were impacted by the Blitz.

Mr Morgan, who lived in the area in 1940, said the bombing of Filton had a "devastating" impact on the local area, including the employees of Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Dozens of the firm's workers were killed when the company was targeted.

"They were just scatter bombing the area, and hoped for the best if they were attacking, and you hoped for the best if you were receiving," he said.

Mr Morgan said his father, who worked in the design office at the firm, was relocated to Wick House in Brislington after the company moved its offices to different parts of Bristol following the bombing.

"Everything was diffused as far as possible to preserve life, and only people who were essential to production were kept in the factory," he added.

Bill Morgan, 91, volunteers at Aerospace Bristol

Nicole Squire, who is head of fundraising for the museum, said: "One of the reasons we're doing this is to capture those memories before it is too late, so that we can pass them on for future generations."

The restoration of the pillbox was funded by Filton Town Council.